Despite the name, it's not necessary to be a bodybuilder to enjoy the food at Muscle Maker Grill. / Jess Heugel/For the News-Leader

The new Muscle Maker Grill on Battlefield caters to those seeking a healthier alternative, and, for the most part, eating out is usually not a healthy affair. So when Evelyn Reynolds suggested we try her new favorite, we headed over to see whether the two can really go together.

Evelyn's Take

One of Evelyn’s associates from Weight Watchers told her about Muscle Maker Grill, and she’s been a fan since the restaurant opened. “I was looking forward to a healthier alternative,” she says. Because she’s always health conscious, she knows what to get and how to incorporate it into her day’s eating routine. Muscle Maker Grill has several options to keep her on track, food-wise. “Everything is just fixed fresh,” she explains.

She and her friends Pat and Debbie — they call themselves the Posse — meet regularly at the restaurant, usually at least once or twice a week. This dedication has led to the creation of a dish the group favors, the Tucson Posse, which is the restaurant’s Tucson dish with mushrooms, onion and garlic mixed in. The Tucson features grilled chicken breast and turkey bacon over brown rice and covered with tomatoes, scallions and the restaurant’s zero-carb signature sauce ($6.99).

We start our meal with the Teriyaki Chicken Nuggets ($4.99). The menu tells us they’re only 281 calories — calorie counts are listed for every dish — and these nuggets aren’t the typical fast-food nugget. They’re baked, yet Evelyn says they have ample flavor. She’s calls the sauce a “magic potion” of flavor. Though the restaurant specializes in low-calorie cuisine, she says the food sticks with her; she doesn’t have to worry about being hungry later.

Her Tucson ($6.99) is prepared fresh — no microwaves here, she says — and the addition of two ounces of fresh garlic really ups the flavor ante for her. “We don’t have any problems with vampires,” she jokes. Because she’s in tune with how food impacts her body, she even knows how many Weight Watchers Points Plus the dish has, and she’s able to indulge without feeling like she messed up.

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Katie's Take

My first thought was that surely Evelyn must be a 20-something bodybuilder, despite the name, right? I mean, Muscle Maker Grill? Are people lifting weights between bites? Interestingly, when I walk in, I’m pretty shocked. The restaurant is packed, and there’s not a bodybuilder in sight (that I can tell, anyway). The packed restaurant is full of normal, everyday folks just eating good, wholesome food.

Evelyn tells me the restaurant is usually packed, especially during the lunch hour. The busy south Springfield location is conducive to the office crowd.

When I see chicken nuggets, my mind goes to the fried kind, and I love those, but when I see that Muscle Maker Grill doesn’t have fryers, I’m a bit skeptical. The chicken nuggets, though, are great. The cool fat-free sour cream they come with gives them an extra creamy flavor. Though it’s not a large appetizer, it could work as a meal, too, perhaps with a soup or small salad. And with the great teriyaki flavor, I don’t miss the breading on typical chicken nuggets.

The Arizona that I order is similar to the Tucson, except that it’s a bit bigger. My dish is slightly over 600 calories — thank you, menu information — so I’m not too worried about stepping on the scale tomorrow. I wonder how a dish based on brown rice, chicken and turkey bacon can pack a lot of flavor. In two words, though, it does. The brown rice has a great texture, and the zero-carb sauce reminds me of a creamy French dressing. It pairs well with the grilled chicken and salty turkey bacon. The dish itself is quite large, and I could easily share it with someone. I don’t, though, and I devour my dish — all 600 calories of it, of course.

The Dish, the Restaurant

Muscle Maker Grill opened last October and is one of 70 locations nationwide. Chase Rieta, general manager, says the restaurant believes in the concept of great food made healthy, not necessarily health food. “Alternatives are very much needed in this area,” Rieta says.

In addition, Muscle Maker Grill prides itself on providing several different options and not just one type of cuisine. “We have a little bit of everything to appeal to everybody,” he says. “Our menu is pretty diverse.”

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Rieta admits that the name of the restaurant can be intimidating and masculine, but once patrons try it out, they realize it’s a great tasting, healthy option — and not just for bodybuilders. The Springfield location is consistently in the top five locations for the franchise.

Because the restaurant doesn’t have a deep fryer, they coat the pieces of white-meat chicken in flour and bake them. “I like the taste better of the baked nuggets,” he says. “It’s all white-meat chicken and juicy.”

The Tucson that Evelyn enjoys is actually just a smaller version of the Arizona that I had and is one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Rieta says that this area favors rice dishes because of our love affair with Asian restaurants, so it’s an easy favorite. The zero-carb signature sauce is similar to seafood sauce, Rieta says, so Ozarkers typically like it. Plus, it has the flavor without the fat of seafood sauce.

Evelyn certainly isn’t a bodybuilder, but she knows healthy cuisine. Even if you’re not trying to slim your waistline, Muscle Maker Grill provides a flavorful meal.

Our Guest: Evelyn Reynolds

Age: 71

Occupation: Retired

Dish nominated: Tucson

Quote: “Everything we’ve had here has been wonderful.”

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What: Muscle Maker Grill

Address: 900 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 128

Phone: 417-823-8646

Cuisine: Fast casual

Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Price range: $4.99-$9.99

Accepts: Cash, all major credit cards

Reservations: not accepted

Services: takeout, catering and delivery to 65804 and 65807 or anywhere in Springfield with a $50 minimum